Hold on tight, because 'Saturday Night Live' just went for the jugular, roasting some truly bizarre and, frankly, dangerous claims! This week, 'Weekend Update' didn't hold back, tackling RFK Jr.'s latest conspiracy theories and drawing a hilariously dark parallel between Kristi Noem and the horror movie villain Jigsaw.
The segment featured a surprise reunion, with former 'Weekend Update' heavyweights Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Seth Meyers joining the current anchors for a joke-off that left the audience roaring. But the real fireworks started when they began dissecting the week's most outrageous political moments.
First in the firing line was Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services Secretary, who has become increasingly known for spreading misinformation, particularly regarding vaccines. Co-anchor Colin Jost, with his signature deadpan delivery, highlighted RFK Jr.'s recent claim that circumcised men are more likely to be autistic. "Which isn't surprising coming from a man who looks like he's made out of foreskin," Jost quipped, delivering a punchline that landed with a thud... and probably some gasps. But here's where it gets controversial... RFK Jr. has a long history of making unsubstantiated claims, including a link between Tylenol and autism. Is this just harmless satire, or is SNL contributing to the dangerous spread of misinformation by giving RFK Jr. more attention, even if it's negative?
Next up was South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. Jost played a clip of Noem's video being shown to airline passengers at TSA checkpoints, where she attempted to blame Democrats for the government shutdown – a shutdown happening under a Republican-controlled Senate, House, and a Republican president. The kicker? The video started with the iconic line from the 'Saw' movies: "I want to play a game." The implication, of course, being that Noem is subjecting the American public to a torturous political game. And this is the part most people miss... Could Noem be deliberately using the 'Saw' reference to signal something to a specific segment of the population? It's a dark thought, but the connection is undeniable.
Michael Che then chimed in with a zinger about the U.S. Treasury's plan to release a silver dollar with President Trump's face on it, joking that the flip side would feature "Harriet Tubman in a headlock." Ouch. This was a jab at the long-delayed plan to replace Andrew Jackson with Tubman on the $20 bill, a move announced back in 2016 but now potentially pushed back to 2030.
Jost also took aim at Trump's decision to proclaim an end to Indigenous People's Day and celebrate Christopher Columbus as an "original American hero." "So while Trump is rounding up people with ICE, he is praising Columbus, a guy who literally brought boat loads of Hispanics to America," Jost pointed out, highlighting the irony and, some might say, hypocrisy.
The segment wrapped up with the aforementioned joke-off, providing a lighthearted end to a segment filled with sharp political commentary. But the questions remain: Did 'SNL' go too far this week? Were the jokes about RFK Jr. and Kristi Noem appropriate, or did they cross the line? And is comedy truly effective in holding powerful figures accountable, or is it just entertainment that ultimately changes nothing? Let us know what you think in the comments!
